Manju’s Jatiya Party wants law to form next EC

Jatiya Party, led by MP Anwar Hossain Manju, on Monday (January 10) told President M Abdul Hamid that his party wanted the next Election Commission (EC) to be formed under a law provided by the Constitution.

A seven-member delegation held talks with the president at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban, Jaynal Abedin, press secretary to the president, said.

The delegation said the EC must get proper cooperation from the executive bodies of the government for holding a free and fair election.

However, it said respected acceptable personalities should be included instead of relying on bureaucrats if the president goes for selecting a search committee for EC.

Welcoming the delegation at Bangabhaban, President Hamid said the views and suggestions of the political parties are very important in forming an acceptable Election Commission. 

Secretary to the President's Office Sampad Barua, Military Secretary Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, Joynal Abedin were also present on the occasion.

The president opened the dialogue on the formation of the next EC on December 20. The current EC is scheduled to end its five-year term in February.

So far, 18 of 29 political parties who were invited in phases joined the talks while five did not.

According to Bangabhaban press wing, the other parties invited for the dialogue are -   Islami Front Bangladesh and Bangladesh National Awami Party on January 11, and BNP and National People's Party (NPP) on January 12, Bangladesh Kallyan Party, Jaker Party and Jatiya Party on January 13 and Awami League on January 17.

According to the EC website, the country has now 39 registered political parties and only nine of them have representation in the Parliament.

The nine parties are Bangladesh Awami League, Jatiya Party, BNP, Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-Jasod, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, Ganoforum, Bangladesh Tarikat Federation and Jatiya Party.